“The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger and the Euro-Atlantic area safer. The security of Finland and Sweden is of paramount importance to the Alliance, even during the accession process,” the statement said. . The decision will now go to the parliaments and legislatures of the 30 Member States for final ratification. NATO leaders have said they expect the process to move quickly, allowing for an unprecedented rapid integration and show of unity against Putin. “The agreement reached last night by Turkey, Finland and Sweden paved the way for this decision,” the secretary general told a news conference. He recounted how two rounds of talks were held by senior officials in Brussels under his auspices ahead of Monday’s meeting between Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo .an. Turkey agreed on Tuesday to withdraw its objections to its membership bids, removing a significant obstacle to NATO membership. The enlargement vote, coupled with significant new commitments strengthening NATO’s strength in Europe, combined to make this week’s summit in Madrid one of the most productive in recent memory. The result is exactly what Putin hoped to repel when he invaded Ukraine more than four months ago. “I said Putin is looking for the Finnishization of Europe. He will achieve the naturalization of Europe. And that is exactly what he did not want, but exactly what needs to be done to ensure security for Europe. And I think it is necessary,” he said. of the USA Joe Biden when he arrived at the summit venue in Madrid.
Biden announces reinforcement of NATO forces
Biden and other NATO leaders gathered in the Spanish capital to reveal a significant increase in forces along the east side of the alliance, as Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no signs of slowing down. Speaking with Stoltenberg, Biden listed new troop movements, equipment missions and military installations designed to demonstrate the importance of security in the face of Moscow’s aggression. “The United States and our allies will step up – we are stepping up. We are proving that NATO is more necessary now than ever and is as important as ever,” Biden said. He said the United States would set up a permanent headquarters for the Fifth Army Corps in Poland, maintain an additional rotating brigade of 3,000 troops in Romania, boost rotation in the Baltic states, and send two more F-35 fighter jets to United Kingdom and additional air defense stations and other facilities in Germany and Italy. “Together with our allies, we will ensure that NATO is ready to face threats from all directions – in every area, land, air and sea,” Biden said. The United States has not forwarded to Russia its plans to boost its momentum in Europe. “There has been no communication with Moscow about these changes, nor is there a requirement to do so,” said John Kirby, NSC’s strategic communications coordinator, after Biden announced the series of measures. A second official told reporters that the announcements did not violate any agreement between Russia and NATO, which sets out parameters for the deployment of troops in Europe. “The decision to permanently promote the Five Corps Front Headquarters, you know, is not in line with this commitment and our understanding of NATO’s founding act Russia,” said Celeste Wallander, the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs.
Zelensky asks what Ukraine needs to do to join NATO
However, even if Putin’s goals fail and the conflict continues, the momentum is in Russia’s favor at the moment. That left Biden and other Western leaders this week looking for ways to change the course of the war. Despite the enthusiasm at the summit for the two youngest NATO members, another leader – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – expressed disappointment that his country’s NATO ambitions were ignored despite being under siege by Russia. Addressing the NATO summit in Madrid virtually, Zelensky asked rhetorically: “Ukraine has not paid enough” to join the alliance and review its open door policy. “Is our contribution to the defense of both Europe and culture as a whole still insufficient?” asked. “What else is needed then?” Ukraine has been unsuccessfully seeking to join NATO for years, hampered by concerns about Russia’s challenge and other issues related to its governance practices. Speaking after Zelensky’s speech, Stoltenberg said the alliance welcomed the speech. “Ukraine can count on us for as long as it takes,” Stoltenberg told reporters. He praised Zelensky’s “leadership and courage” and called the Ukrainian leader “an inspiration to us all”.
Alliance raises pressure on Russia, but wary of repercussions
As early as this week, the United States and European nations imposed new rounds of sanctions on Moscow, banning new gold imports and agreeing to cut oil prices. New rounds of security assistance, including a US-provided missile defense system, have been added to the line of artillery and ammunition flowing into Ukraine. Whether any of this is enough to radically change the way the war unfolds remains to be seen. Zelensky told leaders attending the G7 summit in Germany that he wanted their help on a major initiative to win the war by the end of the year. Leaders worry that the rising cost of the war, seen in rising gas and food prices, could lead to reduced support for Ukraine in the coming months. Some have warned that fatigue is prevalent, adding to growing concerns that the alliance could break. “When we agreed that we were going to respond, we recognized that it would have some cost to our people, the imposition of sanctions on Russia. But our people stood united. They have stood up and they have stood strong.” Biden said Tuesday when he met with King Felipe VI at the Royal Palace in Madrid. During that meeting, Biden received the news that Turkey was withdrawing its objections to Finland and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership, ending a months-long confrontation with the most demanding NATO member. In order to reach an agreement before the summit, Biden left behind the prospect of an official bilateral meeting with Erdogan in a telephone conversation on Tuesday morning. The leaders will meet on Wednesday to discuss the myriad of issues that have strained relations between Washington and Ankara over the past several years. Biden also met with the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of South Korea to focus on the threat posed by North Korea. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Yoon Suk Yeol are invited to the NATO summit, but their countries’ ties have recently soured amid disagreements over wartime stories, making joint meetings with Biden rare.
